Letters to the editor for Thursday, April 18, 2013

Thursday

Apr 18, 2013 at 9:45 AM

It is unfortunate in a democracy when the system is manipulated as a means to an end. Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler's petitions to get their names on the ballot for the New Paltz village trustee elections were not challenged based on principle, but — based on their own quotes in the press — Cohen/Rocco supporters contested only the Kerr/Rotzler petitions for political, not principled, reasons.

It is unfortunate in a democracy when the system is manipulated as a means to an end. Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler's petitions to get their names on the ballot for the New Paltz village trustee elections were not challenged based on principle, but — based on their own quotes in the press — Cohen/Rocco supporters contested only the Kerr/Rotzler petitions for political, not principled, reasons.

The result is that numerous village citizens have been disenfranchised — some for getting married and changing their name, some because a witness actually had her petitions "double" witnessed, and many for their exuberance in signing for multiple candidates on the same day (rather than erring on the side of the voters, the Board of Elections decided to throw them all out, instead of assigning them to at least one candidate).

With Kerr and Rotzler knocked off the ballot, bureaucracy, party machine and politics have won over choice and democracy — but only in this round. Village of New Paltz voters, join me in voting for Don Kerr and Rebecca Rotzler — mark your calendars to write in their names on May 7 — and democracy will win the next round, at the ballot booth.

KT Tobin

New Paltz

Most Americans are concerned that 12 million or more illegal immigrants may be rewarded just because they are the fastest-growing sector in the USA, or because 67 percent of Latinos voted to re-elect President Obama.

No legislation should be passed that will "lead a path to citizenship," a misleading term invented by activists and lobbyists behind this illegal immigration reform movement, and are pressuring Congress and the president just months into his second term. We're not stupid and know this means to give amnesty now to all who illegally entered and continue to reside here, with immediate legal citizenship.

As programs are being continuously slashed, along with threats of new cutbacks accross the board daily, has anyone considered the financial impact to the American taxpayers who are already hurting, and fear the future of an unstable economy and unreliable government?

Why should illegal immigration reform be given priority over securing the border, better assisting our senior citizens, improving support to military veterans for their painful service, and expanding, not cutting, our education system so the next generation is not faced with this problem?

William Hernandez

Newburgh

If the politicians were doing their job, they should be aware of the possibility that the tax increase would be defeated. If that be the case, they must be ready with Plan B.